Supreme Court Could Block Monsanto Weed Killer Lawsuits
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Supreme Court Considers Monsanto’s Appeal in Roundup Litigation
The Supreme Court of the United States agreed on Friday, January 12, 2024, to hear arguments in Monsanto Company v. Durnell, a case concerning whether federal law preempts state law failure-to-warn claims related to the herbicide Roundup. the case centers on whether Monsanto, now a subsidiary of Bayer, can be shielded from lawsuits alleging that Roundup causes cancer, even though the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has not mandated a cancer warning label on the product. The Court’s order indicates arguments will likely be held in April, wiht a decision expected by late June.
Glyphosate and Cancer Concerns
The core of the dispute revolves around glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup. While the EPA has consistently maintained that glyphosate does not pose a cancer risk to humans, the agency’s assessment has been subject to ongoing scientific debate.The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), part of the World Health Organization, classified glyphosate as “probably carcinogenic to humans” in 2015. IARC’s monograph details the reasoning behind this classification.
The Durnell case and Missouri Law
The case before the Supreme court originates from a lawsuit filed by John Durnell, a Missouri resident who developed non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma after years of using Roundup. A Missouri jury awarded Durnell $1.25 million in damages in 2023, finding Monsanto liable for failing to warn consumers of potential cancer risks, even though the jury did not